Alternatives to teeth cleaning?

[animalsgetrevenge]

Ernie's teeth are getting worse by the day. He has been eating raw mush since July and I am having a lot of trouble getting him to eat anything more. Giuli and Jennifer are helping us through this, but for the time being I need to find something to clean his teeth since he isn't eating bone or kibble.

I really don't have the money to spend on getting his teeth cleaned this very minute. What treats, freeze dried foods, etc can I feed him to clean his teeth? I have heard of people brushing their ferrets teeth but all the cat and dog tooth brushes seem way to big for a ferret mouth.

Suggestions?

[Forum Administrator]

Jerkey Treats (100% Meat), you can also swab his teeth with a q-tip and some pet-safe toothpaste

[velvetfuzzbutt]

how bad are his teath? do you have any photos?

your best bet is to just continue to work to get him eating bone and tearing through muscle, or get a dental. this isn't a good natural or raw way BUT If its not bad, an enzymic pet toothpaste and gauze might work to keep tarter at bay until he is on Raw meaty bones.

[animalsgetrevenge]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I need to come up with the money to get them cleaned as soon as possible. His teeth have they rusty plaque or tartar on his big fangs (canines?), the very back teeth (molars?), and the tooth between them, on both sides of the top teeth. Since switching to raw they have become a WHOLE LOT WORSE... I don't blame raw, I blame his refusal to eat bone or my inability to get him to eat it! I guess kibble cleans teeth better than mush!

[Forum Administrator]

Kibble doesnt clean teeth, it just doesnt cause tarter to build up as fast. Kibble actually wears down teeth, whereas mush does not. So both have their pros and cons

[mustelidmusk]

I use Oma's Pride freeze-dried trachea rounds. I cut them into strip-like shapes,and the brats chew them down.

I started with small pieces. Once the brats got used to eating them I started making larger pieces. They work well for teeth cleaning

I also feed Bonus velvet antler treats for small dogs. they'resliced very thin. My kids eat them right up as is, but they're easy to clip into very thin strips as well

Use crappy scissors (these things will dull the blades of good scissors), kitchen scissors, made for cuttng bone, or wire cutters to cut these things up.

I hear N-bones help k too. An occasional n-bone is better than tooth/gum problems - plus... gelatin is an animal product - no vegetable like a loyof people assume it to be.

If the build-up is ba, you can try scraping the caked on tartar with a dental tool to get a lot of the build-up off.

-jennifer